AFCON Player of the Day - Egypt's Essam El Hadary

Essam El Hadary became the oldest player ever to appear at the Africa Cup of Nations as Egypt drew 0-0 with Mali on their return to the tournament on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old goalkeeper came off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Ahmed El Shennawy and beat the old mark set by compatriot Hossam Hassan, who was 39 when he played at the 2006 Cup of Nations.

Otherwise, the Pharaohs’ return to Africa’s biggest stage after a seven-year absence proved to be something of an anti-climax with neither side creating many chances on a terrible playing surface in Port-Gentil.

The result means Ghana are in control of Group D following their 1-0 win against Uganda earlier in the day at the same venue.

But, for El Hadary, a clean sheet was a perfect return, if only the more forward thinking players could have done their jobs as well as the 44-year-old.

Clubs

INTERVIEW: Bailly looks calm and comfortable for club and country

Six months ago, Eric Bailly was a relative unknown to the Premier League and although many of them won’t admit it, the majority of Manchester United fans will have had no clue who he was either.

With that in mind, the ease with which he has seamlessly integrated into the first team squad of one of the world’s biggest and most scrutinised clubs is staggering.

Plucked from Villareal as Jose Mourinho’s signature first signing, the 22-year-old earned the man-of-the-match award on his competitive debut, a 2-1 Community Shield victory against Premier League champions Leicester City in August.

You’d probably have to go back to Wayne Rooney to find such a young player who looked like he belonged from the very beginning.

Far from performing like a typical promising youngster thrown in at the deep end, Bailly has looked nearly flawless and any mistakes have been minimal. Stats show he has averaged more tackles (2.6) and more interceptions (3.2) per 90 minutes than United’s other centre-backs, while Mourinho said of him: “he is not experienced at this level, but he looks very comfortable at such a big club. For other guys it is different.”

When you learn more about him, however, it’s perhaps not so difficult to fathom why he looks so at home. Bailly was an African Cup of Nations champion with the Ivory Coast, aged just 20, two years ago. He started every single game in Equatorial Guinea as the Elephants claimed a second continental title with a penalty shootout victory against Ghana.

He was soon on his way to the Yellow Submarine from Espanyol for ¤5.7 million (Dh22m), the transfer going through before the trophy was even lifted.

As defending champions, Michel Dussuyer’s men have a target on their backs right now in Gabon, but Bailly embraces the pressure on their shoulders.

“The title of being a defending champion gives us more motivation to go and win it again,” the Bingerville-born defender told Sport360 at the Ivorians’ pre-AFCON training camp in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s a positive pressure because we have to go and defend our title. We know that we need courage to go and do that.”

Although he was raw back in 2015 – he had only played five games for Espanyol’s first team – Bailly had legends like the Toure brothers and Roma forward Gervinho alongside him. Yaya and Kolo have since retired from international football, while former Arsenal man Gervinho is ruled out with injury.

Fellow icons Didier Drogba, Didier Zokora and Emmanuel Eboue are also long gone, so Bailly, with a medal already to his name, is now one of the most senior players. Again, this does not trouble a man who looked at ease during the Ivorians’ opening 0-0 Group C draw against Togo on Monday.

“It’s not about taking those players’ places, it’s about coming here and giving your best,” he added, calmly.

“We know those players did a great job for the team. Now it is the young players’ duty to step in and give their best and try to push the team forward.”

Talking following training at New York University earlier this month, Bailly added: “It’s a wonderful feeling to be with my team-mates and training here.

“Everything is going perfectly. I am happy to be back in the team and preparing myself.”

At club level, life is also pretty perfect. Bailly established himself early as one of Mourinho’s first-choice centre-backs, with Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind all fighting for the spot beside him.

A knee ligament injury suffered in the 4-0 drubbing by Chelsea in October ruled him out for eight games.

When he’s been on the field though, he’s been a rock; composed, strong and lightening quick. Arguably the one player above any other who finally looks a clear heir to Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic.

United are also beginning to finally click under their Portuguese boss and Bailly is clearly happy with the embryonic stages to his life at Old Trafford, so much so that he’s already looking to stay well beyond his initial four-year contract.

“Hopefully I can play in Manchester all my life,” said Bailly when asked about his future ambitions with the Red Devils.

“I am very happy here because it is such a great club. It is such an honour to play for this club and I hope I can continue giving my best and become a great player in this club. I thank everyone, all the fans and everyone at the organisation.”

Although content with how life has begun in the famous red jersey, Bailly is not your typical, naïve early twenty-something footballer who seems to know it all. He is keenly aware the limelight can quickly fade and that starring for United cannot be taken for granted – just like Nick Powell, Federico Macheda, Memphis Depay and compatriot Wilfired Zaha seemed to do before him.

“It’s difficult to claim the position of being a first team player but I have to enjoy every minute I get at this club because it’s a wonderful club and I am very happy to be there and to be part of it,” added Bailly.

“I am happy to be at such a big club. I never dreamed a better dream than playing for Man United. Hopefully I can enjoy every bit of it every day.”

Bailly hit the ground running in the north of England, while more established names found it difficult to get a footing or find their stride. Fellow summer arrival Paul Pogba, though, is now blossoming since his world record £105m (Dh408m) return from Juventus, while Mourinho is also beginning to stamp his mark on the club that has suffered so chronically dealing with the loss of Sir Alex Ferguson.

French midfield marauder Pogba even spoke earlier this month of a belief in the dressing room that this season’s Premier League title is not beyond them.

Bailly, predictably, is not so bold, but does feel like something special might be beginning to stir and that the winds of change could be about to sweep along Sir Matt Busby Way.

He said: “There are a lot of new players and the coach is new. Now we are noting that the team is gelling together and creating a good atmosphere, and we are having the results too.

“We know that with a coach like Mourinho he can bring the best out of players, so I am very confident that this team can go further. The players are getting a good understanding both on and off the pitch.”